Health officials urged people to identify avian flu symptoms early and properly cook chicken and eggs to limit risk of infections.

The newly reported H5N9 strain was found Monday at a duck farm in Merced County, California, according to the World Organization for Animal Health. The Paris-based organization that studies animal diseases said it's the first verified U.S. case of H5N9 in poultry. The organization said the more common strain H5N1 was also found.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bird flu outbreaks have impacted poultry in 51 states, while the virus has been detected in dairy cows across 16 states.

Scientists say the temporary freeze on communications from federal officials creates a troubling blind spot for those tracking the virus.

Learn about the new H5N9 bird flu strain in the US, its impact on food safety and prices, plus expert advice on protecting yourself from avian influenza.

By India Edwards HealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Jan. 29, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- A commercial turkey flock in North Carolina has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu,

Six dead swans have been found in Worcester in a case of suspected bird flu. Worcester City Council said on Tuesday evening the birds had been found along a stretch of the River Severn between the cathedral and the railway viaduct.

Lithuania has reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, on a laying hen farm in the western part of the country, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Wednesday.